Believing one can never be too prepared, administrators at Country Meadows of Allentown, the independent living and senior care facility at 450 Krocks Road, Upper Macungie, recently took part in a mock "bus into a building" disaster drill.

The training session was done under the watchful eye of Fire Commissioner and Emergency Management Coordinator Grant Grim.

The Lehigh County 911 Communications Center kicked off the drill by calling firefighters and rescue personnel from Upper Macungie Station 25, Trexlertown, and Station 56, the township's Schantz Road fire station.

Additionally, ambulances from Cetronia Ambulance Corps were sent to the scene to aid "victims," and Upper Macungie Fire Police officers controlled access to the scene.

Several Country Meadows employees were made up as injured victims awaiting rescue and first aid emergency treatment and transport to a hospital.

As detailed in the Country Meadows emergency plan, all available personnel in other buildings at the facility rushed to help "evacuate" residents of Building 3, where a Country Meadows bus was parked at the entrance to simulate the emergency.

Grim said he was pleased with the response of the rescue personnel to the scenario, and that the event was staged with realism as a serious effort to be ready for whatever situation Country Meadows personnel and township first responders might face.